Football is a numbers game. Four downs to get at least 10 yards on a battlefield of 100 yards. Two teams with a total of 22 players on the field at a time.

But for Troy coach Jim Dasios, the number this year is 26, which is the tally of athletes who are on his squad during practice Wednesday, still nine days away from his season and home opener against Conrad.

“Our goal this year is to make the playoffs,” Dasios said. “We’ve had a couple of 2-6 seasons, but if we keep everyone healthy, we could do it.”

The reason for Dasios’ optimism is talent, and the Trojans have some good athletes in key positions.

For starters, Gabe Hickman is returning as Troy’s signal-caller at quarterback. Hickman has been under center since his sophomore season, so he’s got the experience. Hickman is one of just four seniors on the Trojans squad this year.

“Gabe is a dual threat,” Dasios said. “He can run the ball, and he’s got a good throwing arm to go with his good size — 6-foot and 205 pounds.”

Hickman will have some good athletes for targets in receivers in Mike Miller, Pate Scott and Gage Tallmadge.

“We’re glad to have Gage out this year. Last year, he was our manager,” Dasios said. “We had probably the most-athletic manager in the league last year.”

Then Dasios talked about his offensive backfield and specifically sophomore Sean Opland.

“He’s just physically gifted,” Dasios said of Opland. “An athletic kid, he started for us last year, played basketball and went to state in track. We’re looking for him to be a big part of our game.”

Blessed with good talent in key positions, Dasios then said his Trojans’ Achilles heel with be both the offensive and defensive lines.

“Garret Chapel is my only returning lineman,” Dasios said. “We’ve got Bruce Metz, who played when he was a freshman and who’s now a senior. But beyond those two, we’re really inexperienced.”

Also, Dasios said with just 26 players, he knows most of his athletes with experience will be playing both defense and offense.

“My guys will always be going both ways,” he said.

Then Dasios explained why he coaches.

“We finished last season with just 21 kids,” he said. “But I’ll tell you what: These kids always compete. They never quit. They played their hearts out.”

The Trojans have an eight-game schedule with four at home and as many on the road. They open at home at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6, against Conrad. Other home rivals include Cut Bank, Plains and Thompson Falls. Road games will be to Ronan, Bigfork, Eureka and Mission.

The Trojan schedule states Nov. 1 as the start of the playoffs, a date Dasios hopes to keep.